Name : Joe Morgenstern / Alias : Wall Street Journal
The people responsible for "Eddie the Eagle" might have made a better movie about Samuel F.B. Morse, since they're devoted to telegraphing every plot point and potential surprise.

Name : Tom Huddleston / Alias : Time Out
The film never admits it, but almost everything here has been invented for the screen. That leaves a bad taste: Edwards is still very much alive, and his story is bizarre enough without embellishment.

Name : Alonso Duralde / Alias : TheWrap
Designed for audiences who will throw their weight behind the film's schmaltz and sentimentality. Anyone unwilling to commit to the movie's shamelessness will feel like they've hit the ground headfirst.

Name : Tirdad Derakhshani / Alias : Philadelphia Inquirer
A triumphant, feel-good, laugh-out-loud, sports biopic.

Name : Gary Goldstein / Alias : Los Angeles Times
Prepare to be amused, moved and inspired.

Name : Adam Graham / Alias : Detroit News
Though it aims for heroism, Edwards' story doesn't have a dramatic enough arc to be truly inspirational. It's not about winning, it's an ode to participation, which isn't enough for it to get off the ground.

Name : Stephen Whitty / Alias : New York Daily News
Hugh Jackman doesn't play Wolverine in "Eddie the Eagle," which is too bad. The film deserves to be slashed to bits.

Name : Bill Goodykoontz / Alias : Arizona Republic
It's a movie as warm and fuzzy as a comfortable blanket, and as safe as the milk Edwards prefers to anything stronger. Not as exciting, perhaps, but it gets the job done well enough.

Name : Colin Covert / Alias : Minneapolis Star Tribune
While it is stretching the truth to call "Eddie the Eagle" a good film, it is without question a nice one.

Name : Brian Truitt / Alias : USA Today
A delightfully feel-good though hopelessly fluffy affair directed by Dexter Fletcher that slaloms around complete hokum thanks to a pair of winning performances.

Name : Ann Hornaday / Alias : Washington Post
"Eddie the Eagle" leaves viewers buoyed by satisfactions unique to classic come-from-behind stories. Even when it's as ungainly and cravenly audience-pleasing as its protagonist, it soars.

Name : Andrew Barker / Alias : Variety
If director Dexter Fletcher's loose adaptation of Edwards' story often seems content to mimic "Cool Runnings" beat for beat, at least it picks a bar it can safely clear.

Name : Kate Taylor / Alias : Globe and Mail
It is a rare biopic of any kind, let alone a sports bio, that merely celebrates participation. It's that novelty that makes this simple comedy shine.

Name : Christy Lemire / Alias : RogerEbert.com
It's a shame that a movie about a man with zero athletic ability, who had the fearlessness to attempt a perilous 90-meter ski jump for the first time ever in front of a rapt Olympic audience, takes no chances.

Name : Sara Stewart / Alias : New York Post
A bland underdog fable whose comedy never makes it off the bunny slopes.

Name : Neil Genzlinger / Alias : New York Times
Although Mr. Edwards's last-place finishes in Calgary made him something of a sensation, a symbol of do-it-yourself persistence, this film doesn't seem to trust the inherent likability of his story.

Name : Peter Howell / Alias : Toronto Star
The real Eddie was neither this big a klutz nor this inexperienced. But when the camera follows Egerton's Eddie waaay up and down those heart-stopping jumps, it's hard not to cheer him on regardless.

Name : Leah Pickett / Alias : Chicago Reader
This inspirational heart-warmer from director Dexter Fletcher is the cinematic equivalent of a hug.

Name : Moira MacDonald / Alias : Seattle Times
By the end, even though you know what's going to happen, you might feel like cheering. He's an unlikely eagle, but just for a moment, he flies.

Name : James Berardinelli / Alias : ReelViews
Taron Egerton reproduces Eddie's offbeat charm, turning him into an Asperger's afflicted champion of the undertrodden.

Name : Joe McGovern / Alias : Entertainment Weekly
A massive vat of hot cocoa with a mountain of whipped cream on top-sweet and warm and made with a mission to satisfy everyone who takes a sip.

Name : Liz Braun / Alias : Toronto Sun
This tale of the quixotic British athlete who became the darling of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games is a tad sugary sweet, but thanks to the performances of Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton, the end result is a family film that's highly entertaining.

Name : Richard Roeper / Alias : Chicago Sun-Times
Director Dexter Fletcher paints Eddie's story in broad, bold strokes, never missing an opportunity to milk a suspenseful dramatic turn or go for the relatively easy laugh - but it's a style well-suited to this wonderfully ridiculous story.

Name : Katie Rife / Alias : AV Club
Like its protagonist, the film-produced by Kick-Ass and Kingsman: The Secret Service director Matthew Vaughn, of all people-is cheerful and unpretentious. But unlike Eddie, it's not terribly original.

Name : Ty Burr / Alias : Boston Globe
The infectious "Eddie the Eagle" succeeds by mining both aspects of Edwards's story with an equally deft touch.

Name : Rafer Guzman / Alias : Newsday
Fluffy as new-fallen snow, but Egerton is terrific as the unlikely Olympian and Jackman makes a fictitious character seem almost real.

Name : Mick LaSalle / Alias : San Francisco Chronicle
It does make you feel good, but it turns out that the film's story is 90 percent fiction.

Name : Peter Travers / Alias : Rolling Stone
Director Dexter Fletcher shoves inspiration down your throat until you gag or give in.

Name : Bilge Ebiri / Alias : New York Magazine/Vulture
Eddie the Eagle tries to have it both ways with its main subject, simultaneously ridiculing and ennobling him. And, amazingly, it mostly works.

Name : Rafer Guzman / Alias : Newsday
Fluffy as new-fallen snow, but Egerton is terrific as the unlikely Olympian and Jackman makes a fictitious character seem almost real.

Name : Peter Travers / Alias : Rolling Stone
Director Dexter Fletcher shoves inspiration down your throat until you gag or give in.

Name : Andrew Barker / Alias : Variety
If director Dexter Fletcher's loose adaptation of Edwards' story often seems content to mimic "Cool Runnings" beat for beat, at least it picks a bar it can safely clear.

Name : Joe Morgenstern / Alias : Wall Street Journal
The people responsible for "Eddie the Eagle" might have made a better movie about Samuel F.B. Morse, since they're devoted to telegraphing every plot point and potential surprise.

Name : Gary Goldstein / Alias : Los Angeles Times
Prepare to be amused, moved and inspired.

Name : Katie Rife / Alias : AV Club
Like its protagonist, the film-produced by Kick-Ass and Kingsman: The Secret Service director Matthew Vaughn, of all people-is cheerful and unpretentious. But unlike Eddie, it's not terribly original.

Name : Moira MacDonald / Alias : Seattle Times
By the end, even though you know what's going to happen, you might feel like cheering. He's an unlikely eagle, but just for a moment, he flies.

Name : Bilge Ebiri / Alias : New York Magazine/Vulture
Eddie the Eagle tries to have it both ways with its main subject, simultaneously ridiculing and ennobling him. And, amazingly, it mostly works.

Name : Tom Huddleston / Alias : Time Out
The film never admits it, but almost everything here has been invented for the screen. That leaves a bad taste: Edwards is still very much alive, and his story is bizarre enough without embellishment.

Name : Colin Covert / Alias : Minneapolis Star Tribune
While it is stretching the truth to call "Eddie the Eagle" a good film, it is without question a nice one.

Name : Brian Truitt / Alias : USA Today
A delightfully feel-good though hopelessly fluffy affair directed by Dexter Fletcher that slaloms around complete hokum thanks to a pair of winning performances.

Name : Joe McGovern / Alias : Entertainment Weekly
A massive vat of hot cocoa with a mountain of whipped cream on top-sweet and warm and made with a mission to satisfy everyone who takes a sip.

Name : Bill Goodykoontz / Alias : Arizona Republic
It's a movie as warm and fuzzy as a comfortable blanket, and as safe as the milk Edwards prefers to anything stronger. Not as exciting, perhaps, but it gets the job done well enough.

Name : Stephen Whitty / Alias : New York Daily News
Hugh Jackman doesn't play Wolverine in "Eddie the Eagle," which is too bad. The film deserves to be slashed to bits.

Name : Sara Stewart / Alias : New York Post
A bland underdog fable whose comedy never makes it off the bunny slopes.

Name : James Berardinelli / Alias : ReelViews
Taron Egerton reproduces Eddie's offbeat charm, turning him into an Asperger's afflicted champion of the undertrodden.

Name : Tirdad Derakhshani / Alias : Philadelphia Inquirer
A triumphant, feel-good, laugh-out-loud, sports biopic.

Name : Adam Graham / Alias : Detroit News
Though it aims for heroism, Edwards' story doesn't have a dramatic enough arc to be truly inspirational. It's not about winning, it's an ode to participation, which isn't enough for it to get off the ground.

Name : Alonso Duralde / Alias : TheWrap
Designed for audiences who will throw their weight behind the film's schmaltz and sentimentality. Anyone unwilling to commit to the movie's shamelessness will feel like they've hit the ground headfirst.

Name : Peter Howell / Alias : Toronto Star
The real Eddie was neither this big a klutz nor this inexperienced. But when the camera follows Egerton's Eddie waaay up and down those heart-stopping jumps, it's hard not to cheer him on regardless.

Name : Neil Genzlinger / Alias : New York Times
Although Mr. Edwards's last-place finishes in Calgary made him something of a sensation, a symbol of do-it-yourself persistence, this film doesn't seem to trust the inherent likability of his story.

Name : Leah Pickett / Alias : Chicago Reader
This inspirational heart-warmer from director Dexter Fletcher is the cinematic equivalent of a hug.

Name : Ty Burr / Alias : Boston Globe
The infectious "Eddie the Eagle" succeeds by mining both aspects of Edwards's story with an equally deft touch.

Name : Mick LaSalle / Alias : San Francisco Chronicle
It does make you feel good, but it turns out that the film's story is 90 percent fiction.

Name : Ann Hornaday / Alias : Washington Post
"Eddie the Eagle" leaves viewers buoyed by satisfactions unique to classic come-from-behind stories. Even when it's as ungainly and cravenly audience-pleasing as its protagonist, it soars.

Name : Kate Taylor / Alias : Globe and Mail
It is a rare biopic of any kind, let alone a sports bio, that merely celebrates participation. It's that novelty that makes this simple comedy shine.

Name : Richard Roeper / Alias : Chicago Sun-Times
Director Dexter Fletcher paints Eddie's story in broad, bold strokes, never missing an opportunity to milk a suspenseful dramatic turn or go for the relatively easy laugh - but it's a style well-suited to this wonderfully ridiculous story.

Name : Christy Lemire / Alias : RogerEbert.com
It's a shame that a movie about a man with zero athletic ability, who had the fearlessness to attempt a perilous 90-meter ski jump for the first time ever in front of a rapt Olympic audience, takes no chances.

Name : Liz Braun / Alias : Toronto Sun
This tale of the quixotic British athlete who became the darling of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games is a tad sugary sweet, but thanks to the performances of Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton, the end result is a family film that's highly entertaining.